THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 12

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

SEN IQR GRADE CONTESTS TRAMWAYS DEFEATS Y.M.C.A. Splendid weather and field conditions prevailed for the continuation of tho Auckland Football Association's senior championship on Saturday, when a series of fast and open contests was yitnessed. At Blandford Park two well-contested matches were played, in which the decision was in doubt to the final whistle. Tramways revealed good form in disposing of Y.M.C.A. in a match characterised by strenuous and exciting play, while Onehunga and Ponsonby failed to come to* a decision after 90 minutes' play. North Shore defeated Abels at Devonport in a somewhat ragged encounter, and Comrades secured the decision against Glen Innes at Western Springs. At Now Lynn Thistle took the points from the home side. Following were the scores:— , Tramways, 1 ; Y.M.C.A., 0. Thistle, 3; New Lynn, 0. Onehunga, 3; Ponsonby, 3. North Shore, 5; Abels, 2. Comrades, 3; Glen Innes, 0. The following table shows tho positions of tho teams:—

Goals. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Tramways .. 4 3 1 11 5 7 North Shore .. 4 3 1 Y.M.C.A. . . 4 2 1 1 12 8 5 Ponsonby . . 4 1 Thistle ..4 2 1 1 13 9 5 Onehunga .. 4 1 1 2 10 7 4 Comrades ..4 1 I 2 11 10 4 Glen I lines . . 4 1 2 1 12 12 3 Abels . . ~ 4 New Lynn . . 4 TRAMWAYS' NARROW WIN DEFEAT OF Y.M.C.A. In a particularly fine encounter Tramways just got home ahead of Y.M.C.A. at Blandford Park. Tramways was the more scientific team, but Y.M.C.A. wa s the more speedy. Y.M.C.A. pressed at the start, but the older team was not to be bustled and pretty play by Spong and Spencer tested Cow in. Tramways was showing better combination and its left wing was always dangerous. Mouatt was breaking up some dangerous movements and sending his halves away. Batty held on too long on one occasion and Hill quickly followed up and tackled him, but Simpson was handy and cleared. From a clearance by Farquharson, Murane tricked Fyfie and Humphries sent in a shot which Batty nearly misjudged. Jone3 broke up a Y.M.C.A. attack to send McMillan away. Tho last-named drew the defence and passed to Donaldson, who beat Cowie with a beautiful shot. Y.M.C.A. pressed from the kick-off and when Simpson brought Hill down Tramways was lucky that the incident was just outside tho area. The free kick was not made good use of and the spell ended with the score:—Tramways, 1; Y.M.C.A., 0. On resuming Y.M.C.A. pressed, but the combination of Tramways was proving a stumbling block. Jones was not wasting any passes, but C'ummings was well watched. Cowie was called on to save in quick succession from Spencer, McMillan' and Williams. Batty was lucky to make a good save when he went down in a melee of players. It was noticeable that Batty's clearances invariably found the line. With 10 minutes to go football which brought the crowd to its feet was witnessed. Y.M.C.A. was striving hard to make a draw and Humphries centred, for Riddolls to miss an easy goal. Back came Y.M.C.A., and Hill shot hard. Batty clearing. Pearson drove hard and Simpson conceded a corner. Cummings got possession and centred info the Y.M.C.A. goalmouth, but Cowie was sure and Farquharson took up, to send Chapman away, the last-named having a shot, which Tinkler blocked. The final whistle blew with the score Tramways, 1; Y.M.C.A., 0. Mr. A. Kyle was referee.

A DRAWN CONTEST PONSONBY AND ONEHUNGA In »■ contest, replete with finished play and exciting phases, Onehunga divided the points with Ponsonby at Blandford Park. From the kick-off. Scott took upfield, and centered, Wilson getting his head to the ball for Craxton to concede a fruitless corner. A hern missed a fine opportunity at the other end, and Clark retaliated by hitting tho goalpost. Givc-and- take play followed until Diamond 'sent Ahem away, the hall going to Innes, and on to Jepson, who tested Zuill. Zuill wns called 011 to save from Ahern, and a long drive from Innes. Ponsonby was maintaining the, pressure, but Alexander and Blockley were clearing well. An Onehunga raid, initiated by Dick, saw Scott and Wilson take upfield for the firstnamed to centre. Wilson bringing Craxton to his knees. A pretty .passing rush in which Innes. Jepson and Foreman took part, eaw tho last-named bent Zuill with a good shot. From tho kick-off, Onehunga retaliated, and Woodhall beat two men to take a shot which Crnxton failed to save. Onehunga's second goal came from a fine tackle by Woodhall, who took from Morrison's toe to send 11 nico pass to Huston, and the bull coming across, found Scott placed to score a n easy goal. Play hung in nridfield ill til half-time, when the score was: Onehunga, 2; Ponsonby, t. Ponsonby pressed and Pearsmi sent a nice piss to Inncs, who gave Zuill 110 chance with a shot which flash**] into the co r i;er of the net. Onehunga injtde progress from the kick-off, but Stewart and Diamond broke up several promising raids. Woodhall retired with an injury, but enme back nfler a few minutes. Dick set up a movement. which Stewart blocked, but Morrison rniskicked and Dick sent in a long shot which Wilson deflected out of Craxton's reach. Ponsonby was now going all out for tho equaliser, and it- was not to be denied. pretty play by Masters and Morrison seeing the last-named send across for Jepson 10 head a fine goal. With the scores even each team strove for the lead, and both goalkeepers were called on to rf.vo. With a few minutes to go .Tepson broke away and sent to Tnnes, who was tripped in the area. Jepson took the penalty, but Zuill threw himself full length to push the ball round tho post. The game ended with the score: Ponsonby, 3: Onehunga. 3. Mr. R. Parfitt was referee.

THISTLE HARD PRESSED MATCH AT NEW LYNN Although Thistle finished with a three goals margin against New Lynn in the match ut New Lynn, the winners wero hard pressed throughout,, and but for a lack of shooting talent in the New Lynn forward line the result would have been much closer. End-to-end play characterised the early exchanges with Thistle holding a slight advantage by reason of its better constructive work. New Lynn drove back splidly, however, and the Thistle area was the scene of several lively encounters. It was a solo effort which gave Thistlo the lead, Wiseman trailing through the opposition to net with a hard drive. Dunsmore added another goal for Thistle, and the spell ended with the score: Thistle, 2; New Lynn, 0. The early part of the second half saw New Lynn making frantic but none the less dangerous efforts to equalise and the Thistle defence, by quick covering up. just managed to keep out the invaders. Marshalling its forces Thistlo surged through tHo New Lynn

defences and a strong offensive culminated when the ball slipped along tho forward lino to Woods, who eaw an opening and promptly netted. Tho game now beca_me strenuously contested, with both goals undergoing danger, but the defences were equal to the occasion. New Lynn was disjMaying fine field methods, but invariably broke down when it came to shooting. In a strong finish Thistle took the points with the score: Thistle, 3; New Lynn, 0. Mr. W. K. Tugby was referee.

POINTS TO NORTH SHORE ABELS' GOOD RECOVERY North Shore ran up an early lead in the match against Abels at Devonport, and in spite of a strong recovery by the latter in the second spell, managed to win by three clear goals. The exchanges were very ragged for a time, the ball being kicked about indiscriminately by the players. The North Shore right showed up first, Walters and Moore combining nicely, but when the last-named slipped in a pretty heel pass Walters was too far forward to take advantage of a perfect opening. Poor initiative work in the Abels' half-line gave 11cLeay very little opportunity of retaliating, although Ansteed nnd Gill were responsible for some splendid progress. Moving out of the backs after saving, H. Smith took the ball past half-way and dropped into the Abels' goalmouth, where Walters drew first blood with a first-time shot. Back came North Shore, and a further centre was taken by Walters in his stride, and banged into the net. North Shore was all over its opponents at this stage, and a further goal came from McCluskey's boot after a well-placed cross was put over by Moore. Nearing tho interval McCluskey tricked the defence and from five yards out swung the ball into the left-hand corner of the net. The half-time score was: North Shore, 4; Abels, 0. It was with a better idea of tactics and passing that Abels opened the second spell, tho ball being swung about and followed up with a determination which upset the home defence. Early reward followed when Ansteed beat A. Smith with a fine drive. Abels kept on top of its opponents and but for weak finishing should have reduced tho deficit on two occasions. The North Shore van was losing its combination against the bustling methods of the opposition, and it was only spasmodically that Abels' territory was invaded. During one of these retaliating measures Moore received and centering, had the satisfaction of seeing the ball rebound off an Abels' defender int| the net. The latter half of the game saw Abels on the attack, but a number of fine opportunities were thrown away. Finally Owens received to net. the final score being: North Shore, 5; Abels, 2. Mr. A. Fletcher was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Second Grade.—Tramways, 2, Tamaki A, 1; Y.M.C.A., 3, Tamaki B, 1. Third Grado Open.—Seamen's United, 2, Papatoetoe, 0. Third Grade Intermediate.—Comrades, 10, Y.M.C.A., 0; North Shoro United, 8, Glen Innes, 2; Metro-College, 3, Mount Albert Grammar, 2 Fourth Grade.—Tamaki, 5, Y.M.C.A. B, 0; North Shoro United, 8, Henderson, 0; Metro-Collego. 4, Papatoetoe. 0: Y.M.C.A., 3, Comrades, 0; Mount Albert, 2, Tramways, 1. Fifth Grade.—Y.M.C.A. C, 2, Abel's, 2; Comrades B, 0, Metro-College, 0; Tamaki, 3, Y.M.C.A. B, 0 ; Sixth Grade.—North Shore United, 1, Metro-College, 0; Comrades A, 12, Tamaki, 0; Glen Innes, 2, Y.M.C.A. C, 0; Y M.C.A. B. 1, Comrades B, 1. Seventh Grade.—Tamaki, 2, Comrades, 0; Onehunga, 5, North Shoro United, 1; Y.M.C.A. C, 6, Y.M.C.A. B, 1. Midget Games.—Comrades, 6, Y.M.C.A., 0; North Shore United, 6 Tamaki, 0. Secondary Schools. —Senior grade: Auckland Grammar, 3, Takapuna Grammar, 1. Intermediate grade: Mount Albert Grammar A, 4, Takapuna Grammar, 0; Auckland Grammar, 7, Mount Albert Grammar B, 0. Junior: Auckland Grammar, 6, Kowhai Junior High School, 0. MATCH AT HAMILTON [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Sunday In the South Auckland Football Association's match between Wanderers and Pukemiro at Hamilton yesterday Wanderers won by 3 goals to 2 CONTESTS ELSEWHERE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRKSS ASSOCIATION] Christchurch Thistle, 2, Western, 1; St. Albans, 4, Linwood, 2; Rangers, 3, Technical, 1. Dunedin.—Maori Hill, 3, Technical, 2; Old Boys, 3, Mornington, 3; Seacliffe, 6, Port Chalmers, 1; Mosgiel, 3, Kaitangata, 0; Northern, 6, Roslyn-Wakari, 0. MATCH AGAINST NAVY AUCKLAND PLAYERS CHOSEN The sole selector to the Auckland Football Association, Mr. A. E. Backhouse, has chosen the following team to play the Navy in a return match at Blandford Park next Saturday:—Cowie (Y.M.C.A.), H. Stone (Glen Innes), Stewart (Ponsonby), Chapman (Y.M.C.A.), Jones (Tramways), Davis (Onehunga), Innes (Ponsonby), Dunsmore (Thistle), Spencer (Tramways), Hislop (Thistle), Skinner (Comrades). Players are requested to attend practice at Blandford Park to-morrow evening at 7.30 o'clock.